Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

94
MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
domestic habits. As it is, I only glance in passing at
the curious fact that, going to Weimar to be under
Liszt's influence, I found myself in a house where the
current ran in a direction utterly opposed to all that
was going on among the Liszt set. In art, I found
there a taste severely classical and conservative; in
the household, all was according to rule, and ex-
quisitely refined ; and their kindness to the English
lady, whom quest of art-perfection had wafted into
their quiet home, was as ' German and hearty,' as it
was entirely free from any element of self-interest.
From all I gathered from them about Hummel-^for
whom their grandmother had inspired them with
the most profound admiration and respect—I could
scarcely wonder if they had but little sympathy for
the fervour which so often degenerated into fever;
the spontaneity and eUm which was said in so many
instances to have overleaped the bounds which fence
in domestic happiness. They did not dislike Liszt
personally—indeed, far from doing so, they have on
many different occasions narrated to me some of the
frequent instances in which he had shown himself
ready to do a kindness, to give a helping hand to the
distressed, even at a cost of some personal incon-
venience. It was, they told me, a common saying at
Weimar, ' Liszt always helps whenever he can.' But
they felt sore—they who were the descendants of one
who has left us many noble and undying works, who
had been beloved by a large circle, but whose heart